Updated: Tuesday, 04 September, 2012 at 08:55 UTC Description The activities of volcanoes in western part of Indonesia territory are escalating, with one of them, Mt. Anak Krakatau, located in Sunda strait spewing volcanic ash affecting area of downtown Bandar Lampung, local media reported on Tuesday. Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung province, is 75 km away from the volcano, further than the one in previous times that affected Cilegon in West Java and Kalianda in Lampung province, according to the media report. The whole area of Bandar Lampung was covered in volcanic ash. Despite a thin layer, the ash was evenly distributed across the city. The volcanic ash also reached parts of Pesawaran and Pringsewu regencies. The head of the Information and Observation division at Lampung Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Nurhuda, said the volcanic ash was carried by winds from the southeast.

"High wind velocity has likely carried the ash from the southeast to reach as far as Bandar Lampung. We urge residents in the area to wear masks when they go outdoors, especially when they are riding motorcycles," Nurhuda said on Monday. The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency ( PVMBG) has yet to upgrade Mt. Anak Krakatau's alert status to a higher level despite the increase in seismic and molten lava levels in the Sunda Strait, as of Sunday. Agency head Surono said that Mt. Anak Krakatau had been emitting molten lava and strombolian eruptions as of midday on Sunday. The lava spewed at a height of between 200 and 300 meters from its peak at midday on Monday. Head of the Anak Krakatau Observation Post in Rajabasa, South Lampung, Andi Suardi, said that Anak Krakatau's magmatic activities were unpredictable. According to Andi, Mt. Anak Krakatau emits 10 toxic gases during its eruption process, such as carbon doixide, which is fatal for humans. "Anyone who inhales the gas may experience breathing difficulties and lose consciousness. It may even lead to death," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

Besides the Anaka Krakatau volcano, an apparent volcanic activity also occurs in Tangkuban Parahu volcano located in West Java. It made the authority close down the Mount Tangkuban Parahu nature tourism park. "We're not allowing vendors and visitors to go up to the crater at present," said West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency head Sigit Udjwalaprana in Bandung on Monday. Earlier, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency raised the status of Mt. Tangkuban Parahu from normal- active, or level 1, to alert, or level 2, on Aug. 23. [link to hisz.rsoe.hu]